Vending machine



Sept. 2 1924. 1,506,981

A. D. GROVER VENDING MACHINE Original Filed lay 1918 2 ShUQtI-8hl0t lINVENTUR.

fillaeft'fl Grove);

1, 0 ,984- A. D. GROVER VENDING momma Sept- 2 2 Show-Shut. 2

Original 'Pnad May 8, 1918 Patented Sept. 2, 1924.

UNITED STATES rENr'oFFIcE. Y

ALBERT n. enovnn, on NEW YORK, N. Y., A'SSIGNOR TO AnTosAnns consonan s,A

' CORPORATION on NEW ORK.

VENDING MACHINE.

Original application filed May s, 1918, Serial no. 233,194. Divided andthis application filed me as,

1921. Serial No. 480,998;

My invention relates to vending machinesand has for its object theprovision of a machine embodying certain improvements and advantagesover machines of this class heretofore constructed.

My invention is particularly applicable to multiple-compartment vendingmachines of the. large typethat is to say, those which-are ope-rated inpublic places, like streets, railroad stations, and the like. Each ofthe magazines of my new machine has associated therewith a hand-operabledelivery mechanism. These mechanisms are mounted separately andindependently of each other, so that each mechanism may be removed fromthe machine as a unit without disturbing the other delivery mechanisms.In this way, should any one of these separate delivery mechanisms getout of order, it is easily replaced by an other. WVhen these deliverymechanisms-are in place on the machine, they form part of the front wallof the casing, and so dispense with the necessity of a separate outerplate to cover these mechanisms, as is found inmany machines heretoforeconstructed.

Anotherobject of my invention is to provide certain improvements in acoin-con trolled delivery mechanism employing aslidable coin-plate and aplunger connected therewith,

The objects and advantages of myinvention will become apparent from adetailed description of the accompanying drawings, in which- 7 Fig. 1shows a plan view of a portion: of a vending machine embodying my" invention;

Fi 2 is a vertical section a roximatel on line 22 of Fig. 1, looking inthe direc tion of the arrows; N

Fig. 3 is a transverse cross-section through one of the deliverymechanisms ap proximately on line 33' of Fig. 1, looking in thedirection of the arrows;

the members 5 and- 8 Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-section approximately online H of F ig.'2, looking in the direction of the arrows toward thefront of the machine,

Fig. 5' is a detached perspective view of the common framework whichsupports all of the delivery mechanisms,-' one of these mechanisms beingshown in place on the framework; and

Fig.6 is a crosssection on line 6-6 of Fig. 1, showinghow the coin-plateejects a coin under certain conditions.

The outer casing of the machine maybe of any preferred construction. 1For lack of space, the entire casing is not" indicated in the drawings,but only certain portions thereof. The side walls of the casing. are

shown in the d'rai'zvings at 1 and 2." These side walls projectforwardly at ,3 so as to provide sufficient space to accommodate thedelivery mechanisms. The grooves or Chan nels 4c of the side walls 1 and2 are adapted to receive the side members 5 ing frame-work indicated asa whole by F and shown in perspective in: Fig. 5. This frameworkpreferably consists of a pair of transverse members 6 and 7 on which-arerigidly mounted the side members 5 and the intermediate members 8. Thenumber of intermediate members will, of course, de-

pend upon the number of delivery mecha menus to be embodied in themachine. In. the drawings I have illustrated a fourcompartment machinehaving'four delivery mechanisms. The side, members 5 are shown providedwith bottom flanges 9 (see Fig. 4), ing devices,- such as rivets lO-orthe like, whereby the side members are rigidly through wh-ich passsuitable fasten ofa, support mounted on thecross-pieces 6 and 7. Thesecross-pieces are preferably provided with upstanding flanges 11 and 12,which not only strengthen the cross-pieces, but assist in. rigidlymounting the-members 5 and 8 thereon. From Fig. 5 it will be seen thatthe members 5 and 8 are provided with notches 13 whiclrfirmly engage theflange 11 of the front cross-piece 61 At the rear,

standing -flarige12 of the rear cros's-piece'7. The members 8 areprovided with bottom lugs-14 which enter corresponding openings in thecross-pieces 6 and:

abut against the up- 7, and by means of these lugs 14 the members 8 aresecurely riveted on the cross-pieces 6 and 7. The framework F as awhole, is secured in place between the side walls of the casing bysuitable fastening devices, such as screws 15, which pass throughopenings 16 in the front cross-piece 6 into the top of the lower frontpanel 17 of the casing. This is clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 4t.

It will be seen from Figs. 4 and 5 that the members 5 and 8 of theframework F are provided with laterally projecting flanges which arearranged in pairs. These pairs of flanges are marked a, b, c and (Zrespectively. Between each pair of these flanges is mounted a deliverymechanism. In Fig. 4:. the four delivery mechanisms are, as a whole,indicated respectively by A, B,

and D. The delivery mechanism A is mounted between the flanges a, themechanism B is mounted between the flanges Z), and so on.. As these fourmechanisms are alike in construction, it will only be necessary todescribe one of them,

Each delivery mechanism has a top plate indicated as a whole by P, Thistop plate consists of a horizontal front section 18, a horizontal rearsection 19, an intermediatevertical section 20, and a downwardlyextending front section 21. This plate is preferably formed of a singlepiece of sheet metal and is bent into the desired shape.

The top plate P of each delivery mechanism carries'a casting indicatedas a who-1e by E, which is formed with a pair of side grooves 22. Bymeans of these grooves the delivery mechanism is adapted to be slid intoplace between a pair of flanges a, b, c and (Z, on the main frame-workF. As clearly seen from Fig. 4:, the flanges of the frame-work enter thegrooves or channels 22 and thereby support the mechanism in firmposition on the frame-work. The inward movement of the deliverymechanism is limited by the front section 21. of the top plate Pengaging the front edges of the supporting members 5 and 8 of theframework. It will be seen from Fig. 4- that when the deliverymechanisms are in place on the frame-work F, the top plates P arecontiguoiis, and so present practically a single outer plate which formspart of the outer casing of the machine,

The top plate P of each delivery mechanism is provided with acoin-entrance opening 23...which is in alignment with the coinopening 23in the coin-slide 2 Through the vertical section of the plate P projectsa hand-operable plunger 24?, to which the coin-slide 24.- is rigidlyconnected. A ,slidable block indicated as a whole by K s also rigidlyconnected with the plunger 21*. This block is mounted to reciprocateoetween a pair of arms 25' projecting rearwardly from the plate P. Thesearms are securely mounted. on the plate P in any suitable manner, as bymeans of lugs 26 projecting through the top plate and serv ing asrivets. The arms 25 are provided with a pair of aligned slots 27 inwhich engage the cross-pieces 28 of the block K,

as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 5. The arms 25' are at their rear connectedby a cross-member 29, on which rests the rear end of the rod 30 whichcarries the return spring 31. The arms 25 rest at their rear end on topof a suitable supporting member 32 rigidly mounted between the sidewalls of the casing,

The block K of each delivery mechanism.

has pivoted thereon a suitable ejecting member J. Associated with eachdelivery mechanism is a magazine M containing the goods or packages tobe delivered. I prefer to mount the magazines directly on the arms 25 ofeach delivery mechanism, as shown in Fig. 2, where the arms 25 are shownpro vided with recesses 33 adapted to receive the projections 34 at thelower end of the I magazine. It will, of course be understood that theupper end of each magazine is suitably held against tilting. In Fig. 2,the lowermost package in themagazine M is indicated at 35, and it willbe scent-hat this package is above the normal position of the I ejectingmember J. When the plunger 24 is pushed without a coin having beenpreviously deposited, the ejecting member J is. not sufficientlyadvanced to cause deliveryof any goods. When, however,-a proper coin isdeposited in the coin-opening '23 of the coin-slide 24 and the plunger24 'is pushed in, the coin causes the normally locked coin-slide to bereleased. and the plunger is free to be operated to its full extent. Asa result, the pivoted ejecting member J is raised at its rear end so asto engage the bottom package 35 and push the same rear wardly out of themagazine. from where it drops down a delivery chute-to anopening at thefront of the casing (not shown).

In view of the fact that tl1000111-0011- llll trolled mechanism by whichthe ejector J is actuated into ejecting position through the medium of aproper coin does not form part of my present invention, '1 have notdeemed it necessary to illustrate the same in detail, In the broad as-First, the means by which the slid'able block K is prevented from beingtilted upwardly by a downward pressure on the plunger 24 second, themeans'for causingthe coin-slide 2st to eject acoin which is depositedwhen the coin-slide'qis .out of normal position; third, the means-forpermitting removal of a deposited coin through the coin-entrance. vand,fourth, guarding against the cross-pieces -28 of the block engaging 1nvconstruction, the block K is compelled to the slots'27 of the arms 25.By virtue of this travel in a horizontal path; i

As shown in Fig. 6, the casting Ejof each delivery mechanism has securedthereto, by means of screwsve, or otherwise, a member indicated as awhole by E. This member has a front extension f which forms practicallya continuation of the front end of the casing E, and a depending rearextension 9. The front section 21 of each plate P is provided with acoin-discharge opening h. Should a coin .be deposited through thecoinentrance opening 23 when the coin-slide 2 L isin inner or actuatedposition, the coin will drop on to'the top of the casting E. WVhen thecoinslide then returns forwardly to normal position, the front edge ofthe slide will push the coin (see H, Fig. 6) out ofthe machine throughthe opening h.

The member E is provided with an opening 70, which is in alignment withthe opening or cut-out portion k of the casting E. The front section 21of the plate P has an opening m. As seen from Fig. 6, the open-, ings m,70, is, 23*, and 23, are in alignment, so that an instrument may beinserted into the opening an to lift a. deposited coin out of theopening 23, whenever the intending purchaser desires for some reason toget back his deposited coin. The depending extension g of the member Eis so arranged as to prevent the insertion of an instrument horizontallyinto the machine, whereby tampering with the coin-controlled mechanismback of the guard g is effectively prevented.

The rear section 19 of the plate P of each delivery mechanism isprovided with a lug 36 which co-operates with the lower end 37 of theupper front panel 38 of the casing to, lock the delivery mechanisms inplace when the front panel '38 is in closed position. Only the lowerportion of the front panel 38 is shown in the drawings, but it will beunderstood that this panel extends upwardly to the top of .the machineto close the space where the magazinesare housed. It is usual to providea lock at the upper end of the removable front panel 38, so that thispanel may be locked in place on the casing. The

panel 38 is usually of wood, and the lower edge 37 is preferably aseparate piece of metal secured to the wooden portion of the preventedby Klupanel by means of screws 39, or otherwise.

The panel 38jis also provided with a hook portionftO: adapted toenga-gepins orlugs 4.1 projectinginwardly. from the side walls ofthecasing. It will be clear from Fig. 2 that when the upper front panel-38 ism-place, the engagement between the parts 36 and 37" absolutelylocks the delivery mechanisms against Withdrawal from the machiner Another advantage of. this locking means be tween-the delivery mechanismsand the upper, front panel 38 is, that unless all of, the deliverymechanisms are in proper positionon the frame-work F, the lower end 37of the front panel 38cannot rest on the rear section- 19 immediatelyinfront of the 'lugs'36, in which eventit will be impossible to lock thepanel 38 in place, because the upper end of the panel would not then gointo the casing.

I have not illustrated this particular point,

because the use of removable front panels on vending machines is wellknown, and it will there-fore beunderstood how the panel would not fitat the topof the casingif the lower end" 37 rested on the lugs 36instead of on the section 19 of the plates P.

It will be seen from the foregoing that I have provided amultiple-c0mpartment machine in which theseparate delivery mechanisms'may be removed independently of each other. Should anyone of themechanisms require repair, it is only necessary to remove that mechanismand insert a new one in its place. Heretofore, in multiple-compartmentmachines, it has been necessary to send the entire machine, or at leastall of,

the delivery mechanisms, back to the factory for repair, when any one ofthese mechanisms became 'disarranged. ,By my present invention, Iobviate this expensive procedure, for the local agent in charge of themachines will carry several extra mechanisms in'stock and it would be asimple matter to remove a defective mechanism and replace it by a goodone.

When the delivery mechanisms are .in

place on the'machine, the plates P act as av single member to close theopening between 1 the lower end 37 of the upper front panel 38 and thetop of the lower panel 17. This dispenses with'a separate cover platefound n so many machines heretofore constructed.

Although I have herein shown and described a certain specificconstruction, v I.

would have it understood that this has been merely for the sake ofillustration and not by way of limitation. It is obvious that changesmay be made in the particular structure set forth, without departingfrom the invention as defined in the appended claims.

' This application is a division of my -00 pending case,Seria'l Number233,194, filed May 8, 1918, and the claims herein are directed to thecoin-controlled features.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a coin-controlled vending machine, an outer casing, a plateforming part of the front of said casing, said plate being provided witha coin-entrance opening and a separate coin-discharge opening, a slidehaving a coin-opening to receive the deposited coin and carry the sameinto operative position, a support beneath said slide for n'iaintainingthe deposited coin in the coin-opening of said slide, said support beingadapted to receive a coin or check deposited when said slide is out ofnormal position, hand-operable means for moving said slide inwardly, andmeans for returning said slide to normal position, said slide beingadapted during its return movement to push through said coin-dischargeopening any coin or check deposited when the slide was out of normalposition.

2. In a com-controlledvending machine, an outer casing, a plate formingpart of the front of said casing, said plate being provided with acom-entrance opening and trance opening when said member is out: of

normal position is automatically discharged through sald'coin-dischargeopen ng during the return movement of said member.

ALBERT D. GROVER.

